Hot water heating system



Sept. 1, 1931. o. H. SCHLEMMER HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 11, 264 Sheets-Sheet 1 'ofiverl'ischieipmer,

Sept. 1', 193.1. o. H. SCHLEMMER HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 11,1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 39 v wasgwuentoc Oliver fiQSchlemmcr,

a? ZW Sept. 1, 1931. o. H. SCHLEMMER HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed May11, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1101 nurk p 1, 1931- 0. H. SCHLEMMER 1,821,773

HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed May 11, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ii Ignuenloi Oliverfi.ch[emmeq Patented Sept. 1,1931

'1 Urrso STATES OLIVER H. SCHLEMME-R, OIE CINCINNATI, OHIO HOT WATERHEATING SYSTEM Application filed May 11, 1926, Serial No. 108,391.

This invent-ion relates to hot water heat- 'ing systems, and has for anobject the provision of means whereby to cause each radiator inthesystem :tocirc'ulate exactly the amount of water required to perform theduty it is calculated to perform.

Another object is to provide such hot water heating system, wherein theneed for much of the intricate calculation incident to selecting thedifferent sizes of pipe is eliminated by employing" safe maximum sizesof pipe and utilizing devices of my in'ventionto insure the exact andproper circulation through each radiator.

Another objectis to provide a device for use. with hot water heatingsystems, by means ofjwhich there is eliminated the socalled shortcircuiting through one or more of'the radiators. f

Another object. is to provide a (device which positively andautomatically controls a hot water supply to radiators, but which maybemanually controlled, andalso closed, without affecting the operation ofthe automatic mechanism, when such mechanism is again permitted tobecome operative.

These and other ob'ects are at'amed by the means and methods describedherein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a cross sectionalelevation of a device of my invention.

' Fig. 2 is an elevationalview of a radiator and connections, havingassembled therein a device of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3'3 of Fig. 1. t

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4'4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectionalview on line 55 of 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectionalview of asimpliiied form of a device of myinvention.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic elevation of a hot water system of myinvention, showing thevarious radiators connected in various practicalrelationships to a system.

1 In heating systems employing hot water, much diiiiculty is experiencedin so selectingthe exact size of each length of pipe,

amount of hot water. The proper circulation for a perfectly operating"hot water heating'system may be attained by determining the size of'thevarious radiators, the temperature in the room in which the radig atorisfplaced', the average temperature of water in the radiator, and themaximum temperature degrees drop wl1i chthe water is to undergo whilepassing through the radiator and the height of the radiator above theboiler. Given these figures, is

possible to calculate the exact size ofpipe required in each-part of thesystem, and to calculate the resistance to the flow of water throughsaid pipes. In such systems hot water circulates through the severalradi ators, and in giving off its heat, becomes cooler and heavier, and.passes through return pipes tothe boiler. [When the inlet is connectedto the'top of a radiator, it may be stated that the hot water circulatesthrough theradiator' through the agency of a force equal to andresulting from the difference in weight between the cooler waterpassing: out of the radiatorand the hot water entering the radiator,measured, as known columns of hot and cool water in the system, on thevertical distance between the center of the water space in the. boilerand the center of the radiator in the system. In order to have eachradiator in a system give oil the desired number of heat units per unitof time, the supply must be accurately regulated. If 'too -much .waterpasses through one radiator in the system, the system may become shortcircuited, so that other radiators will receive too small a supply, ornone at all, and a lack of uniformity in heating in the system willresult therefrom. To attain a'perfectly operating hot water systemby'using the required size of pipe at each point, entails calculation sointricate and so diflicult of practicalembodr,

ment as to result in few perfectly installed systems. I i

In the system ofmy-invention, I have pro videda device whereby safemaximum sizes of pipes are, employed, so as to insure ample,

and in some cases, excessive pressure at each to provide-each radiatorwith the required I radiator or group of radiators. The single radiator,or groups of radiators, are then governed by a device of my invention,whereby only the required supply of hot water is delivered to eachradiator or group of radiators.

This device does. not operate thermo statically, but employs a supplycontrol means which is'automatically regulated and tends to assume aposition of balance be tween opposed forces within 'the system. Theseopposed forces comprise the pressure of the hot water supply on the oneside and on the other side a force resulting from a difference in theweights of two known colurns of waterof different temperature, theweights of which columns are opposed one Lathe other.

In order to clarify the explanation of structure and operation of mydevice, I have shQW a simplified operative form in Fig. 6, which will beexplained before describing the commercial embodiment thereof.

Referring to Fig. 6, 10 represents a hot water sup ly pipe into whichthe bottom of a cylin' V er 11 is screw-threaded. The cylinderill has 'abottom wall 12, having a cup structure 13, provided with a plurality ofvertically spaced opposed perforations 14,

through which hot water from supply pipe 10 must pass in order to enterthe cylinder 11. A cylindrical sleeve 15 may be reciprocated verticallyinteriorly of the cup 13, and is of. such diameter as to give clearancebetween the outer wall of the sleeve 15 and inner wall of cup 13. Thisclearance s ace 16 permits seepage of hot water from tfiesupply pipe 10,when the sleeve 15 is in position substantially closing the perforations14in the cup. This provides a film of water between the sleeve and cup,which precludes binding of the members one upon the other. It will beapparent, therefore, that when-the sleeve 15 is lowered slightly, theuppermost perforations 14 will be free to permit a hot Watersupply toflow freely therethrough into the cylinder 11, and that asthe sleeve ismoved downwardly, to uncover all of the perforations, a maximum ofhotwater will pass through the perforations into said cylinder. When thesleeve is in the position shown, the flow is reduced to a minimum.Suitably secured to the center of sleeve 15 is a rod 17, by means of lwhich the sleeve is raised and lowered. The

rod 17 asses through and is secured to a hollow oat 18, and has a guidebearing in anopen web 19 secured adjacent the top of the cylinder. Sto170 on rod 17 limits up wardmovement o the float as it strikes web 19.Downward movement of the float is limited by the lower end of rod 17strikingthe baseof cup 13. The circumference of the float 18 is slightlyless than the inside circumference of cylinder 11, so that there is nofrictional binding between said members, and for the members to permit aslight seepage of water therebetween. The entire cylinder above andbelow the float 18 is filled with'water, and the weight of sleeve 15,float 18, and all the parts associated with the rod 17, is such thatthey are in a position of submerged balance. Cover flange 21 forms aclosure for the top of cylinder 11, and has a reduced threaded coupling22 which is connected to the bottom of a radiator by a suitable pipe.Port 23 in the cylinder 11 receives; hot water supply pipe 24, whichleads to the top of the radiator. The operation of the device is asfollows:

Hot water begins to circulate upwardly through perforations or ports 14,into cup or valve seat 13., into the chamber comprising the interior ofcup 13 and the interior of the cylinder 11, Part of the hot water mayfind its way upwardly, past the float through the space 25 between thefloat. and the cylinder wall, but the larger portion passes out throughport 28 and pipe 21, and from thence into the top of the radiator. Thewater in the radiator being cooler and hence heavier than the incominghot water, the cooler water immediately tends to find its way throughopening 22 into the cylinder, so that there is immediately created acooled water chamber above the float 18, and a consequent pressuretending to push the float down, thereby moving the sleeve of valve 15downwardly and opening up a greater number of the, ports of perforations14 in the valve seat 13. At the time pressure has been built up in thesystem generally, particularly in the hot water chamber constituted bythat portion of cylinder 11 below the float 18, it will immediatelyeffect a balancing of the float 18 at such a position as to retain valve15 sufficiently open to admit just the required pressure for maintainingthe balance. This permits the proper amount of hot water to becirculated through pipe 24 to the radiator. By the simple mechanismshown and described, there is effected at all times a positioning of thevalve 15 for admitting the required supply of hot water to the radiator.adjustment of the valve is automatically controlled through the agencyof the different weights of selected known columns of water havingdifferent temperatures. The one column is the cooled water verticallythrough the radiator and the other column is the vertical hot watercolumn from the device to the top connection to, the radiator. WVhen theaverage temperature of the Water in the radiator is low, the water whichis in communication with the cylinder above the float will be colder andhence heavier than under normal conditions. The water, being colder andheavier, will push the float 18 downwardly, thereby open- The ing. moreof the valve ports 14 and permitting the hot water supply in member tosupply more hot water to the radiator through pipe 24. After-the hotwater has circulated for a time,'the average temperature in the radiatorwill rise under normal conditions. The column of waterthrough theradiator is then of higher average temperature and consequently lighterinweight. The float 18 will rise and valve will reduce the supply of hotwater through pipe 24. This results in the water in the radiator seekingan average temperature determined by the size of pipe 24 connecting thedevice with the top of the radiator. The size of this connection is soselected that the friction of total connection 24 from the device to topof the radiator is equal to the balancing pressure in hot water chamberbeneath float 18. The size of connection 24 is chosen for carrying afull load for attaining a maximum chosen drop in temperature between thecooled water leaving the radiator and hot water supply when thetemperature of the hot water supply is at a predetermined maximum.

The commercial embodiment of the device of my invention, as is bestshown in Fig. 1, operates in substantially the same manner as thesimplified form just described, but has added thereto certain structurefor effecting manual control within given limits, and also for shuttingoff a givenradiator. In addition to this, there are provided meanswhereby the devices may all be manufactured in but few sizes andadjusted at the factory for the particular duty required of them.Referring to Fig. 1 a casing 25 has a hollow interior 26, within whichis disposed a separate passage 27 provided byan integral interior wall28, connected to the wall 29 and extending to the bottom of the casing30. Communication between passage 27 and the interior 57 is uncontrolledas hereinafter described. The wall 28 is formed relatively thickeradjacent itsbase through which perforation 31 extends; this thicknessbeing added thereto for the sole purpose of providing a longerrestricted perforation between the passageand the interior of casing 25for drainage purposes. The lower end of casing 25 is developed into acoupling 33 for receiving a hot water supply pipe 34. A cylindricalvalve'seat 35 has a plurality of rows of opposed ports 36. A sleeve-likecircular valve 37 surrounds the cylindrical valve seat 35, and isreciprocable vertically thereover for opening and closing the ports 36.The valve and valve seat have a slight clearance therebetween, so as topermit a fllm of water to remain therebetween, which precludes bindingof the members one upon the other, and also prevents absolute closure ofthe valve. The valve'37 is suspended from the bottom of a cylindricalfloat 38 by means of a hanger 39. The See curing means for attachingthehanger'to the float are developed into a conical point 40, so thatwhen the float is in its lower position only the point 40 will contactthe upper face 41 of the valve seat member 35, so that any pressurewithin the interior 26 of the casing, may exert its force upon theentire lower face of the float. A cylinder42 houses but does not contactfloat 38, and has a funnel-shaped outwardly tapering flange 43, and alip 44 which is secured upon the top flange 45 of the casing 25 by beingclamped between said flange and the cover plate46 of casing 25. Aplurality of screws 47 extend through top plate 46, lip 44, and flange45, binding the parts one upon the other. The tapered flange 43 has aplurality of spaced perforations 48 disposed about its circumference.One of these openings designated at 49 (see Figs. 1 and 5), providescommunication between the top of passage 27 and the interior of cylinder42 above the float 38, forming chamber 57. A rotatable closing member 50has a flange 51 provided with perforations 52, which may be brought intoregistry with perforations 48 in the flange 43. The member 50 has a flattop 53, whichisperforatedto receive a guide stem 54 carried by the float38. Means hereinafter described are provided to limit the rotation ofthe closing member 50, so that perforations 48 may be completely openedby bringing perforations 52 into registry therewith (as shown in Fig. 5)or completely closing the perforations by moving the member 50 anddisposing perforations 52 therein completely out of registry withperforations 48, so that the flange 51 of member 50 will completely sealthe perforations 48. An upwardly struck integral pocket'55 extends aboveand is always in open communication through perforation 49 with passage27, and an opening 56 permits constant communication between the chamber57 above the float 38 in cylinder 42 and passage 27. A spring tensionmember comprises an annular portion 58, having a plurality of upwardlyturned resilient arms 59, which are fixed against rotation on the lowerface 60 of the top member 46 of the device, while the annular portio 58presses downwardly upon the top 53 of closure member 50. By this meansthe closure member is retained upon its seat on the flange 43 ofcylinder 42. I

A hollow angular housing member 61 is securedto the top face of themovable member 50, which has perforation 62 to'provide a guide bearingfor receiving the guide stern or rod 54 of float 38. The upper end ofrod 54. is pointed to present a single point of contact to the top ofhousing 61 whichserves as an upper limit stop. A needle perforation 63extends through angular housing 61 to eliminate the possibility of airbecoming trapped in the top of the housing and impeding free movement ofthe parts.

Means are provded for rotatably actuating the angular housing 61, sothat it may impart its movement to movable member for varying the sizeof the openings between stationary flange 43 and the movable flange 51on menibe 50. This movement is efl'ected by means of a lever G l havingan angular perforation (55 therein for receiving the housing 61. Thelever 64 has an elongated aperture or slot 66 extending in the directionof its length. A crank 67 is journaled in the closure flange 46- and hasits crank arm 68 disposed interiorly of the cylinder above member 50.Pin 69 on crank arm 68 enters slot 66 so that when the crank 67 isturned the lever G l will impart movement through housing 61 to member50 for controlling communication through perforations 48 and 52. Asuitable Jac-king gland 70 permits passage of the stem of the crank 67to the exterior of the device, where a regulating handle 71 is attachedthereto by any suitable means. The regulating handle 71 has a dependinglug 73 which may abut limit stops 74- and 740 on arcuate member 75.Screws 76 serve to secure the member to the top face of the cover flange426. The stop 74 is integral with the arcuate member 75 and constitutesthe elf limit stop. The stop 7 40 has an angular e: ension 741 and issecured in adjusted positions on arcuatc member 75 and cover flange l6by the screw 760. A plurality of tapped holes 77 inmember 75 areprovided in order to effect ad'ustment of the step 740. The stop 740 isinitially set at the factory and in this way a number of permanentadjustments may be made on devices oi? agiven slzc, so that said devicesmay be made suitable for a number ofdill'erent maximum capacities byshifting the position or member 51 thereby restricting the actualopening through onfices l8 and One object of this is to elimil'latathenecessity for manufacturing the. devices in a plurality of sizes. Theprincipal object is to provide means to per manently govern the fullcapacity of the deviceto permit of the use of standard sizes of pipefrom outlet 78 to the radiators.

11G handle member 71, crank 67, and lever Gel constitute a manual adjustment for controlling circulation from chamber 26, which constitutesthe hot water chamber, through outlet'78 which is connected w'thradiator 79 by riser 80. V 7

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the hot water supplyin pipe 3i enters the bottom of the device and passes through ports 36-governed by valve 37. The water then finds its way through chamber :26,perforations 48 and 52, then upwardly through riser 80 into the top ofradiator 79. As the radiator 7 9 gives off the heat of the water, thewater becomes cooler and circulates to the bottom of the radiator andthen out through cold water return pipe 81. It will be noted, however,that the bottom of passage 27 connects with the bottom of radiator 79through a suitable section of pipe coupled to the radiator and threadednipple 82 on the casing. A stop cock 83 is inserted between the radiatorand the bottom of passage 27 for effecting further adjustment of thedevice. is coldest at the bottom and warmest at the top, so that theaverage temperature of the column of water in the radiator is lower thanthe column of hot water in the riser 80. The entire casing 25 is alwaysfilled with water as is also the passage 27, which is in opencommunication therewith through ports 49 and 56. The weight of thecolumn of water in the radiator transmits pressure to the water inpassage 27 and the water in cooled water chamber 57 above the float 38.The lesser weight of the column of hot water in riser 80 and chamber 26below the float transn'iits its weight in the form of an up wardpressure on the bottom of the float 38. The resultant pressure of thesetwo columns provides a downward pressure on the float.

This tends to move float 38 downwardly opening ports 36 to admit acoLu-iterpressure from supply pipe 34, thus tending to balance thefloat. This couuterpressure, as relates to the circuit, is consumed infriction in moving the hot water therethrough (from chamber 26, throughorifices l8 and 52, riser 80 into the radiator). Av part of the pressurein either cl amber is lost in the resistance to seepage between float 38and cyliuder 42 when the float tends to seek a position of balance.

As the temperature of hot water in pipe 34 and chamber 26 rises, theradiator will naturallygive oif more heat. This results in a greaterdifference in temperature between the hot water and cooled watercolumns. This results in a greater dowmvard pressure on the float and atendency to further opening of ports 36, to provide a correspondinglygreater counterpressure, It will be apparent that the higher the ten1-perature of the hot water supply becomes, the greater will be the supplyof hot water to the radiator. The average difference in weight betweenthe known cooled and hot water columns in the average radiator amountsto about three-hundredths of an ounce per square inch on top of thefloat, from which it is readily apparent the controlling pressures inthe device are minute.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a diagrammatic outline of a complete system, inwhich the radiators are disposed at different elevations and spaced atdifferent distances from the supply pipes 34 and return pipes 81.

The water in the radiator 79 In this system all of the supply pipes 34may be of safe maximum sizes to provide the required quantity of water.The devices or mechanisms contained within the casing 25,'which may nowbe indicated by refer-, ence numeral 85, are positioned between the pipe34 and riser of each radiator or group of radiators. from the boilerthrough supply pipe 3 will not result in an excessive amount ofcirculation through the radiator because, as previously explained, theregulators Will each permit only the desired amount of water tocirculate through it, and it will automatically adjust itself to supplyeach radiator its required .amount of hot water. At

tention is drawn to the fact that a pump may be used in the system forproducing pressure artificially, but the regulators 85 will function intheir usual manner, regardless of this pressure At the extreme right ofFig. 7 there is shown a single radiator, in which the cool water returnpipe 81 is taken off from the same end of the radiator as receives thehot water supply. In this case the pipe 81 is connected intermediate theradiator and the stop cock 83. Adjacent the last mentioned radiator isshown a pair of radiators at different elevations which are controlledby a single regulator 85. In places where the ordinary flat ceilingradiators are used, and the depth of the water in such radiators 7 isslight, the regulator 85 is positioned at some distance beneath theradiators and artificial known heads or columns of hot and cooled waterare provided by using risers such as 800 and 810. It is understood, ofcourse, that the regulators 85 are for the sake of convenience,ordinarily positioned at the bottom of the radiator- It is notessential, however, that they be positioned on a level with the bottomof the radiator, as is demonstrated in the case of the ceilingradiators, where a known artificial head or column is employed forattaining the known columns of water at different temperatures which arebalanced against each other to regulate the circulation through theradiator.

As heretofore explained, the manually operated handle 71 may be usedwhen it is desired to decrease the flow to the radiator, This isaccomplished by moving handle 71 toward the stop 74 which partiallycloses perforations 48 and 52, thus shutting off some of the supply. Thestop cock 83 may be partially closed, thereby reducing the amount ofseepageupwardly between the float 38 and cylinder wall 42, so that thepressure in cooled water chamber 57 is increased and the float will tendto move downwardly, opening the ports 36. From the foregoing it will beapparent the handle 71 is for manual adjustment to shut off An excess ofpressure.

the radiator. aThestop/cock183 provides an additional adjustment bymeans of which the supply of hot water may be increased, enabling: theradiator to giveoff more heat.

This is sometimes desirable after inst'alla- 'tion to'remedy thedefecttof too small a radiator.- a 1 The weights br washers 20 areutilized for the purpose of effecting a submerged bal-. ance of'thefloat and areused tocorrect slight variations in weight of the.parts whichmay occur in commercial production. I prefer. to effect thissubmerged balance of the float in coldwater.

I do not limit myself to the exact details of structure as shown, asthey may be vari d within the scope and spirit of the invention What Iclaim is: 7

1. Ina hot water heating system the com bination 'with a radiator, of ahot water supply pipe, a riser for feeding hot Water under pressure fromsaid supply pipe to the radiator, predetermined portions of the riserand radiator serving as means for containing 1..

columns of water of known height in the system, and an automaticregulatorcommunicating with the hot water supply pipe and with theradiator, said regulator comprising a slidable valve to control the flowfrom the hotwater supply pipe to the radiator and means directlyconnected and. movable therewith and subjected to pressures inthejsystem in both directions,: saidmeans yielding thereby moving thesaid supply controlling valve and serving to eifect a balance betweenthe pressure resulting from the diiference in weight between a knowncolumn of hot water in the riser and a 8 known column of relativelycooled water in the casing adapted to be balanced between opposedpressures exerted by a resultant pressure due to the difference inweight of columns of hot and cooled water of known height contained inthe supply means and radiator and by the pressure of the hot' *connectedwith the lower portion of the Tradia-tor and the hot Water supply pipe,said radiator and supply pipe, above the metering device, serving asmeans to contain two vertical Columns of water of known height;

the metering device comprising a submerged float, subjected on its topto pressure due totheweight of one of said known columns of Water and onits bottom to the combined pressures of the weight the other of saidknown columns of Water and the pressure of hot Water in the'supply pipe,and a valve movable with the float and controlling the flow of hot Waterfrom supply pipe to the casing. T

4. In a circulating hot Water heating sys- I tem, aradiator, a hot Watersupply pipe and a differential pressure type metering valve connected tosaid radiator and supply pipe for automatically regulating the flow ofhot 7 water from said supply pipe to said radiator, said metering valveincluding a submerged element and a control valve proper, the submergedelement being subject to differential pressures in the system anddirectly connected to the valve proper for effecting movement thereof,the differential pressure actuated 'member constituting the sole meansfor effecting movement of the valve proper.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th dayof May,

1926. e V V OLIVER H. SCI- ILEMMER.

